Armeria plant named ‘Sweet Dreams’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Armeria  plant named ‘Sweet Dreams’, characterized by its light purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Armeria pseudarmeria.

Variety denomination: ‘Sweet Dreams’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Armeria plant botanically known as Armeria pseudarmeria and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sweet Dreams’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Wonga Park, Australia during October 2009. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Armeria cultivars that have an extended flowering season, shorter peduncles and a compact-mounded habit.

The new Armeria cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of the proprietary Armeria pseudarmeria breeding selection coded ARMBRS'2, not patented, characterized by its dark pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during October 2010 in a controlled environment in Wonga Park, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by division since October 2010 in Wonga Park, Australia and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Sweet Dreams’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Armeria plant:

-   -   1. Light purple-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in having a lighter flower color, shorter peduncles and a more compact habit.

Of the many commercially available Armeria cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Bees Ruby’, not patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Bees Ruby’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a lighter flower color than         plants of ‘Bees Ruby’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have shorter peduncles than plants         of ‘Bees Ruby’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a longer flowering season         than plants of ‘Bees Ruby’.

In addition the new cultivar can be compared to Dreameria ‘Daydream’, co-pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 15/731,340. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Daydream’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Daydream’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Daydream’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have more flowers per         inflorescence than plants of ‘Daydream’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Sweet Dreams’. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for approximately seven months in a glass-covered greenhouse in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Sweet Dreams’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Sweet Dreams’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in May 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown utilizing a soilless growth medium in one-gallon containers for approximately seven months in Elburn, Ill. Plants were transplanted in late fall from rooted cuttings. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained during the winter months at approximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. For the final 12 weeks, greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Armeria pseudarmeria cultivar Sweet     Dreams. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female and male parent.—Proprietary Armeria pseudarmeria             breeding selection coded ARMBRS'2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 15 to 18 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 6 to 7             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 14 to 16 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot, vernalization not             required for flowering.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, compact-mounded.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6a (−10° F. to −5° F./−23.3° C. to             −20.6° C.).         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 23.0 cm. Height from soil level to top of             foliage: Approximately 11.0 cm. Width: Approximately 26.0             cm.         -   Branching habit.—Clump forming. Quantity of main clumps per             plant: Approximately 9. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main clump:             Approximately 20. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Basal rosette.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Oblanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute.             Base: Attenuate, sessile. Venation pattern: Parallel. Length             of mature leaf: Approximately 9.0 cm to 11.5 cm. Width of             mature leaf: Approximately 8.0 mm to 1.3 cm. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface             of young foliage: NN137A, base of NN155D, slightly glaucous,             venation indistinguishable from laminae. Color of lower             surface of young and mature foliage: 137B with 137A, base of             NN155D, slightly glaucous, venation indistinguishable from             laminae. Color of upper surface of mature foliage: NN137A             with 139A, base of NN155D, slightly glaucous, venation             indistinguishable from laminae. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Sweet Dreams’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—Color holds for             approximately 2 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Head, globose, terminal on scape,             facing upright. Quantity per plant: Approximately 8.             Fragrance: None detected. Length or height: Approximately             3.5 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity of fully open             flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 140.         -   Scape.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 20.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm to             6.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 137B maturing to             NN137A. Involucral sheath length: Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity: 18, in multiple whorls. Aspect:             Cupped to flat, pointing downward when inflorescence fully             open. Shape: Lanceolate to oblong. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Length of outermost: Approximately             1.9 cm. Width of outermost: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of             innermost: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of innermost:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper (inner) surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer) surface: Densely             pubescent. Color of upper (inner) surface: 137B with 144A at             base and transparent, colorless margins. Color of lower             (outer) surface: 137A with 144A at base and transparent,             colorless margins. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Salverform, in clusters of four.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 5 to 6 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Tubular. Length:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color:             Sepal centers of 145C with transparent, colorless margins;             petals of NN74D.         -   Corolla.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately             1.3 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm.             Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Color of upper surface when             first open: NN74C with base of NN155D. Color of lower             surface when first open: NN74D with base of NN155D. Color of             upper surface when fully open: 75B with base of NN155D.             Color of lower surface when fully open: 75C with base of             NN155D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused sides and base to form             a tube. Shape: Obovate. Margin (unfused portion): Entire,             wavy. Apex: Aristate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 2.5 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color of inner             and outer surfaces: Centers of 145A and 145C with             transparent, colorless margins.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length: Approximately             4.0 mm. Diameter: Less than 1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous.             Color: 145D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament color:             NN155D with a faint overlay of 75A. Anther shape: Oblong,             dorsifixed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther             color: 154C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 2C.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower, with 5 distinct             styles. Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma shape:             Pointed. Stigma color: NN155D. Style length: Approximately             7.0 mm. Style color: NN155D. Style texture: Glabrous with             feather-like pubescence located in lower third. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Armeria has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Armeria plant named ‘Sweet Dreams’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 